Automotive Exports June 2019

Turkey: Ford’s only remaining heavy commercial vehicle production hub
Ford Otosan has become the only truck
manufacturing and development center of
the American automotive firm Ford Motor
Company. Ford closed its factory in Brazil
and put an end to the production of heavy
commercial vehicles in South America,
making Turkey a global production hub in
this regard.
Ford Otosan, which once again brought
the American automotive giant in the truck
market in 2010 with its new “Ford Trucks”
brand and new global products developed
in the process, is now gearing up to
manufacture for the whole world.
General Manager Haydar Yenigün said Ford’s
exit from the South American market will not
adversely affect them. “On the contrary, the
axis of heavy commercial vehicles is shifting
to Europe, Russia and the Middle East and
North Africa region. It was Ford Otosan’s
doing and this will give us a great advantage
in this scope,” he added.
Yenigün further noted that as Ford’s global
engineering center for heavy commercial
vehicles and relevant diesel engine and
engine systems, Ford Trucks produces
advanced technologies to deliver products
that compete in all potential export markets;
not only in Turkey, but also in Europe and
North America.
“We carry on our path with our outstanding
success in research and development and
production and our rapidly growing structure
that is now spreading to 36 countries,” he
continued. “We have the infrastructure,
competence and experience to continue our
effective growth in the international markets
in the coming period as the company’s only
heavy commercial vehicle developer and
manufacturer on the global level.”
The groundwork for Ford Trucks’ global
network was laid in 2010 following the Global
Cargo agreement inked with Ford Motor
Company, one of the main shareholders of
Ford Otosan. In line with the Global Cargo
Growth Strategy, Ford Otosan started to
build its global network by assigning truck
sales distributors in 60 countries on three
continents, mainly in the Middle East, Africa,
Russia, Turkic Republics, Central and
Eastern European markets. Ford Trucks,
which currently operates in 36 countries and
aims to reach 51 by the end of 2020, decided
to put its plan, including Western European
markets, into effect earlier following the
international successes achieved by F-MAX,
its new tow truck manufactured in Eskişehir.
Yenigün made further evaluations about
the Western European expansion of Ford
Trucks, which is a very important venture for
the future of Ford Otosan, highlighting that
they are at the forefront of their investments
which they have made since 2010.
“We continue our growth in international
markets with the opening of our dealers
in Central and Eastern Europe following
the Middle East, Africa, Russia and Turkic
Republics,” he said. “At a time when the
heavy commercial market is shifting to
Russia and the Middle East and North Africa
region, we have displayed a strong stance in
these markets, enriching our experience in
different markets and becoming more visible
on the industry’s radar as an international
brand.”
“We have received nearly 70 dealership
requests from Europe after the success of
our tow tractor, which was fully developed by
Turkish engineers and manufactured in our
factory,” Yenigün noted.